How to decorate a living room with a plain big wall?
Knowing how to decorate a large blank wall comes down to two things: getting the scale right and choosing an approach that suits your budget. Questions about how to decorate a living room with a plain big wall attract hundreds of replies on social media because so many people are stuck on the same problem. This guide explains how to decorate a large blank wall at every budget, from near-free ideas up, and how to avoid one of the most common mistakes: choosing something far too small.
Key Takeaways
- A very common mistake on a large blank wall is choosing decor that's too small.
- Fill roughly 60 to 75 percent of the open wall, or about two-thirds of the furniture below.
- Outline the size with painter's tape before buying anything.
- Near-free options include regrouping art, leaning frames and painting a colour block.
- On very wide walls, divide the space into zones.
The Scale Problem
One of the biggest problems on a large blank wall isn't the choice of decor but its size. A small frame or a modest mirror in the middle of a large blank wall looks lost and can make the room feel emptier than before. On a plain big wall, decor needs to be much larger than most people expect.
The sizing rules
- Above furniture: about two-thirds of the furniture's width, with the bottom 15 to 25 cm above it.
- On an open wall: fill roughly 60 to 75 percent of the wall section.
- Hanging height: centre at about 145 cm (57 in) from the floor on an open wall.
Scale by wall width
| Open wall width | Approximate decor width | Good options |
|---|---|---|
| Under 150 cm | 90 to 110 cm | One large print or a mirror |
| 150 to 250 cm | 100 to 180 cm | A large canvas, a mirror or a gallery of 3 to 6 |
| 250 to 350 cm | 170 to 260 cm | A gallery wall, shelving or a pair of large pieces |
| Over 350 cm | Divide it into zones | Shelving, a mural, panelling or two separate groupings |
Test it with tape
Before you buy, mark the outline of the piece or grouping on the wall with painter's tape. Live with it for a day. If the outline looks small, it will look even smaller once the frame is up.
How to Decorate a Large Blank Wall at Every Budget
| Budget | Ideas |
|---|---|
| Near zero | Regroup art you own, lean art on furniture, paint a colour block or arch, hang a textile or rug |
| Low | An oversized print in a simple frame, trailing greenery, a woven hanging, peel-and-stick decals |
| Medium | A large mirror, a full gallery wall, floating shelves, plug-in wall lights |
| Significant | Panelling or moulding, built-in shelving, a wallpaper mural, commissioned art |
Near zero
Gather the art and frames you already own and group them as one larger arrangement, with even gaps of 5 to 8 cm. Lean large frames on a sideboard instead of hanging them. Paint a colour block, an arch or a band of colour behind the sofa, which can fill a large blank wall for the cost of a tin of paint. A textile, rug or throw hung from a simple rod works as a large, soft artwork.
Low budget
An oversized print in a simple, inexpensive frame gives you scale cheaply. Trailing artificial greenery, a woven or macramé hanging, and peel-and-stick decals add interest without much cost. Several wreaths or hoops in a row can also fill width.
Medium budget
A large mirror makes a big impact on a plain big wall, reflecting light and adding depth. A full gallery wall, a run of floating shelves or a pair of plug-in wall lights flanking a central piece all fill space well.
Significant budget
Panelling or moulding adds architecture to a flat wall, built-in shelving adds storage and display, a wallpaper mural turns the whole wall into a feature, and commissioned art gives you exactly the right size.
Large Blank Wall Ideas by Approach
One statement piece
A single oversized canvas or mirror is the simplest, calmest solution. It works best in modern and minimal rooms.
A gallery wall
A grouping lets you fill a large area with smaller, affordable pieces. Treat it as one unit when judging scale. For layouts, see our guide on how to arrange a gallery wall.
Shelving
Floating or wall-mounted shelves fill a blank wall with display and storage. Leave about a third of each shelf empty so it doesn't look cluttered.
Paint and pattern
A colour block, an arch, a mural or wallpaper fills the whole wall at once, with no decisions about frame sizes.
Large Blank Wall Ideas Room by Room
Living room
The wall behind the sofa is the classic large blank wall. A grouping or single piece about two-thirds of the sofa's width, hung 15 to 25 cm above it, anchors the whole seating area.
Dining room
A large mirror opposite a window brightens the table, or a sideboard with art above creates a focal point and adds serving space.
Bedroom
Above the bed, choose lightweight pieces, such as a textile hanging or a canvas without glass, fixed securely. A blank wall facing the bed suits a calm, single artwork.
Hallway and stairwell
A long blank wall along a hallway or staircase suits a gallery that follows the line of the stairs, or a row of identical frames at the same height.
Open-plan spaces
Use the decor on a large blank wall to define a zone, such as shelving behind a dining area or art above a reading chair, so the open space feels organised.
Lighting a Large Blank Wall
Light changes how a blank wall reads at night. Plug-in wall lights on each side of a central piece frame it, a picture light picks out a favourite artwork, and an uplighter in a corner washes light up the wall. A well-lit wall feels intentional even with fewer pieces on it.
Dividing a Very Wide Wall
On a wall over about 3.5 metres, one piece rarely works. Divide it into zones based on the furniture: a grouping above the sofa, shelves above a sideboard, a tall plant or lamp between them. Each zone follows its own two-thirds rule. Keep the gaps between zones roughly equal so the wall still reads as one composition.
Common Large Blank Wall Mistakes
- Choosing art or a mirror that's far too small.
- Hanging everything too high.
- Scattering small pieces across the wall instead of grouping them.
- Ignoring the furniture below when deciding size.
- Skipping the tape test.
Get the scale right first and how to decorate a large blank wall becomes a choice of style and budget rather than guesswork. For more ideas, see our living room wall decor guide.
Large Wall Decor From Global Swanky
Browse more in our Home Decor collection.
1. Round Decorative Wall Mirror
The Round Decorative Wall Mirror starts at $144.19, with a 60 cm round option for a statement above a sofa or sideboard.
2. Iron Pipe Wall Shelving with Wood Shelves
The Iron Pipe Storage Shelving Unit with Wood Shelves is $25.00, an industrial way to fill wall width with display space.
3. Oval Threaded Solid Wood Wall Storage Rack
The Oval Threaded Solid Wood Wall Storage Rack for Living Room Decor is $24.79, a decorative rack that works well in pairs or as part of a grouping.
4. Artificial Weeping Willow Vine
The Artificial Weeping Willow Vine Hanging Decoration is $21.31, trailing greenery to soften a large expanse of wall.
5. Macramé Woven Wall Hanging
The Macramé Woven Wall Hanging is $15.29, a low-cost textile piece to group with frames.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is good oversized wall art?
Large canvases, big framed prints, textile hangings, tapestries and oversized mirrors all work. For a living room wall, aim for a piece or grouping about two-thirds the width of the sofa or furniture below.
What should I put on a big empty wall?
Options include one oversized artwork, a large mirror, a gallery wall, floating shelves, a painted arch or colour block, a textile hanging, panelling or a wallpaper mural. Choose based on budget and how much you want to fill.
What are some large wall decor ideas?
A grid of identical frames, a salon-style gallery, a pair of tall mirrors, a wall of shelving, a feature wallpaper, painted panelling, a large tapestry, or a combination of a mirror flanked by wall lights.
How big should art be for a big wall?
Art or a grouping should fill roughly 60 to 75 percent of the open wall section, or about two-thirds of the furniture below it. Many people choose pieces that are too small, so if in doubt, go bigger.
What are some statement wall ideas?
A bold colour block or arch, a wallpaper mural, painted panelling, an oversized mirror, a dramatic gallery wall or a large textile hanging all make a strong statement on one wall.